Kodak film

The History of Kodak

George Eastman founded Kodak in Rochester, New York, in 1888, built around the promise "you press the button, we do the rest." The company pioneered roll film and put photography into the hands of ordinary people for the first time, moving it out of the professional studio and into everyday life.

Kodak went on to shape the look of twentieth-century photography and cinema. Kodachrome, introduced in 1935, became one of the most celebrated colour films ever made and remained in production for over seventy years before its discontinuation in 2009, and it is still fondly remembered by collectors today. Kodak also introduced enduring stocks such as Tri-X black and white film in 1954, which became the standard for photojournalism.

The digital era hit Kodak hard, and the company filed for bankruptcy in 2012. Its film business was restructured, with Kodak Alaris taking over consumer and professional still-film manufacturing and distribution while Eastman Kodak continued producing motion picture and other film stocks. Both companies have leaned into the recent resurgence of interest in analogue photography, continuing to invest in film production rather than winding it down.

Kodak's Camera Film Ranges

Kodak's range covers almost every type of film shooter, from complete beginners to working professionals.

Consumer colour negative film, including Gold 200, UltraMax 400 and ColorPlus 200, is designed for everyday shooting. These films are affordable, forgiving of exposure mistakes, and known for warm, punchy colours that suit holiday snaps and family photography.

Kodak's professional colour negative range, built around Portra in 160, 400 and 800 speeds, is prized for natural, flattering skin tones and fine grain, making it the go-to choice for portrait and wedding photographers worldwide. Ektar 100 sits alongside it as the finest-grained colour negative film Kodak produces, favoured by landscape photographers for its vivid, highly saturated colour.

On the black and white side, Tri-X 400 remains a classic fast, gritty film beloved by street and documentary photographers, while the T-Max range (100, 400 and 3200) offers a more modern, fine-grain alternative. For slide film fans, Ektachrome E100 was relaunched in 2018 after a period of discontinuation and delivers vibrant colour and fine grain for both projection and scanning.

Choosing the Right Kodak Film

New to film or shooting everyday moments? Gold 200 or UltraMax 400 are affordable, easy-going choices. Shooting portraits or weddings? Portra is the industry favourite. Chasing punchy, saturated landscapes? Reach for Ektar 100. Want classic black and white grit? Tri-X 400 is hard to beat, while T-Max suits those after a cleaner, more modern monochrome look. Whatever you're shooting, compare Kodak film prices across UK stockists on Filmproof to find the best value on 35mm and 120 rolls.